Shad: “Rose Garden”

A well-known MC in underground circles, Canadian rapper Shad saw increasing fame this past year thanks a damn good third album, TSOL, boasting catchy, hyper-lyrical singles “Yaa I Get It” and “Rose Garden.” The latter of those offers some of his most impressive rhymes to date, and the first verse is essentially his mission statement. He acknowledges his love for naps, his faith, his love for hip-hop, and his relentless optimism even in the most trying of times. This is no more evident than in the following bars: “But Cee-Lo said it best: I know too much and I owe too much to let it rest/ Heard a voice say hey, you never question when you get the blessings/ So don’t get vexed when your life is stressed.” Shad’s delivery and honest tone make the verse especially moving for 20-somethings facing a quarter-life crisis. ~Andrew Martin

via Prefix

Prefix’s Best Rap Verses of 2010 also includes Kanye West, Yelawolf, Black Thought and Phonte.